Mardaani 3 marks the return of Rani Mukerji as the fierce cop Shivani Shivaji Roy, and she is as compelling as ever. Unfortunately, her powerhouse performance isn’t enough to save the film from franchise fatigue. Despite a promising setup and moments of intensity, weak writing and an overstuffed second half drag the film down, making this the weakest entry in the Mardaani series.
Storyline and Screenplay
The film delves into a dark and disturbing racket where young girls from underprivileged backgrounds are kidnapped and vanish without a trace. Their disappearances go unnoticed until the daughter of an Indian ambassador is abducted, forcing the authorities to act. Shivani Shivaji Roy is assigned the case and soon uncovers a horrifying truth – 93 girls have gone missing, and society largely looked away.
The first half of the film is fairly engaging. The investigation unfolds with decent pace, building intrigue despite a few illogical turns. However, the screenplay collapses after the interval. The second half is cluttered with excessive twists, arriving almost every few minutes, stripping the narrative of coherence. What could have been a taut thriller instead becomes chaotic and overindulgent. A more restrained approach would have significantly improved the film’s impact.
Characters and Performances
Rani Mukerji once again proves why Shivani Shivaji Roy is the most iconic female cop in Hindi cinema. Her intensity, screen presence, and emotional depth anchor the film firmly. Even when the script falters, Rani never does.
Mallika Prasad makes a strong first impression as the antagonist, bringing menace and unpredictability, though her character loses steam as the story progresses. Janki Bodiwala, despite her proven talent, is disappointingly underutilised in a poorly written role. A surprise casting choice adds intrigue, but is best left unspoiled. The supporting cast including Mikhail Yawalkar, Jaipreet Singh, Prajesh Kashyap, Jimpa Sangpo Bhutia, and others deliver competent performances.
Action
The action sequences are gritty and grounded, staying true to the franchise’s realistic tone. While not exceptionally memorable, they serve the narrative well in the first half. However, as the story loses focus later on, even the action begins to feel repetitive rather than impactful.
Overall Appearance (Technical Aspects)
On a technical level, Mardaani 3 is fairly solid. The background score and cinematography maintain tension and mood, even when the story falters. Production design and art direction are functional, but the editing noticeably suffers in the latter half, contributing to the film’s messy pacing. Director Abhiraj Minawala shows promise initially, but the lack of narrative control in the final act becomes the film’s biggest drawback.
Verdict
Mardaani 3 is a classic case of a franchise overstaying its welcome. While Rani Mukerji’s performance alone makes it somewhat watchable, weak writing, excessive twists, and a confused vision hold the film back. What was once a sharp, socially relevant cop franchise now feels like a forced sequel that may well signal the end of the road.
Ratings: 2/5⭐
